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pinpricking people out of their unsocial peculiarities. I am accepting it that way, however regretfully. Since raillery is such a two-edged tool of conversation, it seems to me a person ought to be trained to meet its unkind and unjust forms. If it is directed against others, he will naturally side with the one who is being teased, and direct some of the shafts against the bully. If you do this, you may often reap the eternal gratitude of the victim. In defending anyone you must be careful, however, not to apologize for him, and so, in a way, make the bully's charges stick all the more. Anyone who says, "Don't pick on John for his bad grammar. He can't help it if his parents came from the old country," hurts John much more than the teaser hurt him. But if you say, "Isn't it wonderful to be as perfect as Tom — to have perfect accent and diction — so that one can tease others about theirs. I bet Tom uses a dictionary for a pillow," then you are helping John. You direct attention away from him, which is what he most yearns for, and you do not by your apology underline the charges the teaser has made. |
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